Volunteering Your Time Is a Free Mood-Booster
And there are opportunities all around you
I stumbled upon a website that provides volunteer opportunities. Because I live in such a small town, I assumed there would only be listings for major cities.
I was wrong.
There are pages of events, organizations, and small businesses looking for volunteers.
Naturally, I signed up for more than I probably should, since I haven’t volunteered for years and I don’t know what these jobs entail.
My excitement got the best of me.
I didn’t even see the whole list and already there were 3 that caught my eye.
- A fundraiser garden party? That sounds like a blast- and it’s taking place at a historic museum. Say no more, I signed up.
- A neighboring town needs help with planning a remodel. I don’t know how I could help but I would love to be a part of that.
- Gardening/groundskeeping for a community center- this is perfect for me. Volunteer work is about getting your hands dirty anyway.
This website makes it easy
I wish I had known about the site earlier. For a long time, the only place to volunteer was at the animal shelter- and they have a waiting list a mile long.
There’s also the problem of me getting attached to every animal so I would probably try to smuggle the pets out through the side door and take them home. All the pets.
Don’t worry, I know for a fact there are at least 30 volunteers on the list waiting to give love and attention to the animals, with more self-control.
There are other jobs for me out there.
The website that brings us all together
Volunteermatch.org (not an affiliate, just a fan) is a non-profit.
The name says it all. You can search by location, type of volunteer work, or by the skills and experience you have.
There’s an ‘I want to help’ button if you’re interested in the gig. You can create a profile that lets the world know what skills you bring to the table and your contact information. With your profile done, it’s a couple of clicks and your message is sent.
The response didn’t take long
I heard back about the fundraiser garden party almost instantly. The director of the fundraiser sent a thank you email with a list of shifts to choose from.
She sent descriptions of each job, and I wanted to do all of them.
How could I choose from the silent auction recorder, the greeter job that directs the guests at the party, and even the clean-up crew at the end of the night?
Ultimately, I chose a shift at the end of the night after most people leave.
Because- let’s be real here,
I have social anxiety and I don't know if I can handle that many people.
The important part is that I am stepping out of my comfort zone. Volunteering at this event will be a way to break through the barrier I have created for myself.
How lucky I am that I get to do something like this. I get to be a fly on the wall and gain some experience doing a job I never would have known about.
To watch a fundraiser from behind the scenes will be fascinating. I’m a curious creature, some people like all my questions, others get annoyed. I'm sure I will learn a thing or two about running an event like that.
And did I mention this takes place at a museum?
A museum, after hours, when it’s supposed to be closed? I wonder what kind of shenanigans I could get myself into.
While I am thrilled to be trying something different, this is not enough.
There are so many organizations out there that need volunteers. My time and energy could be helpful in other places, to other people, and I want to make a difference in the world.
This museum event is just a warm-up, and I knew I had to make it sound appealing because I volunteered my mom’s time, as well.
She wasn’t even angry that I signed her up, so I know it was the right move.
The first job- clean up the museum after the fundraiser, (easy.)
The second job- cleaning up the beaches, and then the rest of humanity (we’ll start with the beaches.)
According to volunteermatch.org, there are still 11 million spots for you to choose from. By the way, there are also virtual opportunities for you to lend a hand.
My hope is to help my community by 1.) volunteering my time to help out and 2.) sharing this helpful website so others can find ways to volunteer.
Helping others is known to increase self-confidence and is related to lower rates of depression and loneliness. Do something good for others and you’ll also be helping yourself.
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